Feeler mechanism for looms



March 17 1964 J. M. BUDZYNA ETAL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 -Sheet 1 Filed Jan 5 1962 INVENTOR. JOSEPH 002 YNfl HLBERT HLn W & W

A TTORNE March 1964 J. M. BUDZYNA ETAL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. JOSEPH M Buozwvn A rromva y ALBERT H. LHFER TE Filed Jan. 5, 1962 United States Patent 3,125,131 FEELER MEQHAIQEM FGR LQQMS Joseph M. Bndzyna, East Douglas, Mass, and Albert A.

Laicrte, Woonsocket, R.I., assign'ors to Draper Corporation, Hoperlale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Jan. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 164,487 3 Claims. (Cl. 139--273) This invention pertains to a feeler mechanism for looms and, more particularly, to an electrically controlled feeler mechanism for high speed looms of the fly shuttle type.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a feeler mechanism that will accurately indicate and cause to transfer only those filling bobbins on which the filling has depleted to the extent where replenishement is required.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a feeler mechanism which can be adjusted to compensate for possible shuttle rebound and which will prevent transfer of unspent filling bobbins.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide an electrically controlled feeler mechanism which upon initiating indication for bobbin replenishment, said indication will be maintained until such replenshrnent is positively accomplished.

Further objects will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

The present-day looms of the fly shuttle type and the desired speeds with which they are caused to operate have introduced certain undesirable conditions which are not prevalent in the older and slower operating models. The inevitable loom vibration has been increased along with the speeding upon of looms and shuttle boxing has become a critical loom setting which must be properly maintained in the weaving of quality fabrics. Slight rebounding of a shuttle when boxed along with excessive loom vibration has contributed to faulty and improper action of the filling feeler mechanism such, for example, as premature transfer of unspent filling bobbins. Additionally, the electrically controlled feeler mechanisms utilized prior to the instant invention were not positive in effecting bobbin replenishment on each indication for transfer. This can be attributed to the increase in speed of the looms which in many instances has prevented electrical transfer indications from being held for a period of time sutficient to complete the transfer cycle.

According to the instant invention an electrically controlled feeler mechanism can now be provided in which the gap between the sliding feeler member and the contact'for energizing the switch are adjustable to compensate for slight rebounding of shuttles and loom vibrations. This feature has alleviated that undesirable condition of false indications and the premature transferring of unspent filling bobbins. Additionally, the mechanism of the instant invention initiates positive indications for filling replenishment by maintaining these indications until a transfer has been effected. This is accomplished by means of the sliding feeler member, on indication for replenishment, slipping sideways and energizing the switch through contact with an energizing control. This indication is then transmitted to a solenoid and thence through mechanical linkages to complete the transferring cycle. The switch member remains energized during the initiation of the transfer cycle to assure replenishment when required and through a mechanical means, the switch is deenergized by means of a reset control as the mechanical linkage commences its movement of effect filling replenishment.

The invention will be described in detail by reference 3,125,131 Patented Mar. 17., 1964 ICC to specific embodiments thereof one of which is illus trated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a loom showing the invention applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the feeler slide member utihzed to mechanically transmit replenishment indications and an integrally formed cam member that is adapted to act upon a reset control rod that deenergizes the mechanisms switch member during the transferring cycle.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism in FIG. 2 showing the position of the cam member and the reset control rod prior to and at the completion of the transfer cycle.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing how the reset control rod is acted upon by the cam member as the feeler slide member commences to move to initiate bobbin replenishment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 showing the position of the cam member and reset control rod in that position illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the cam member and reset control rod in that position illustrated in FIG. 4.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion of a loom generally indicated by numeral 10 to which the instant invention assembles. A supporting bracket 11 attached to the loom and extending outwardly therefrom supports above and at its outer end a filling feeler unit indicated generally by numeral 12. This unit includes a housing 13 from which there protrudes a filling feeler stem 14 having a filling feeler tip 15 affixed to the outer end thereof. These members are caused to determine the presence or absence of filling yarn on an operating bobbin within a loom shuttle in a manner well known to those familiar with the art.

A second supportingbracket 16 is attached to and extends upwardly from supporting bracket 11 and is adapted to support on one side thereof immediately adjacent to the filling feeler unit 12 an electrically controlled switch 17.

That side of the switch 17 which faces the filling feeler unit 12 is provided with an energizing control button 18 and its opposite side is provided with a deenergizing control button 19 that will be more fully described hereinafter.

On indication for replenishment of the filling bobbin, the feeler stem 14 and tip member 15 are caused to slip sideways in the usual manner causing a laterally disposed rod 20 which protrudes from housing 13, one end of which is in contact with the energizing control button 18, to move in the direction of the latter thus energizing switch 17. The second supporting bracket 16 further supports a solenoid 21 having an armature arm 22 protruding out wardly from one end thereof. When completing the elec trical circuit by means of switch 17, the solenoid 21 is then energized and immediately moves the armature arm 22 in the direction of the indicating arrow shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 and in the remaining figures of drawings, the mechanism further includes a horizontal sliding member 23 the outer end of which is pivotally connected to a pivot arm 24 which in turn is fixedly positioned on a laterally disposed motion transmitting rod 25. The opposite end of the sliding member 23 is provided with a pair of opposed outwardly directed ears 26 and 27 between which there assembles by means of pin 28 a pivotable lifting lever 29. A lifting lever connecting rod 30 serves as a means for interconnecting the lifting lever 2% as at 31 with the armature arm 22 as at 32. The mechanism is provided with the usual filling cam follower trip 33 which in a known manner oscillates longitudinally with respect to the sliding movement of the horizontal sliding member 23.'

The movement of the armature arm 2-2 in the direction indicated causes the lower portion of the pivotable lifting lever 29 to pivot into the pathway of oscillating filling cam follower trip 33 and when contact is made therewith the horizontal sliding member 23 is caused to move in the direction of the indicating arrows shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This motion its transmitted to the pivot arm 34 and the motion transmitting rod 25 and thence to the remaining linkages (not shown) for effecting bobbin replenishment in a manner familiar to those conversant in this art. The innermost end of the horizontal sliding member 23 is provided with an integrally formed cam member 34 which is adapted to act upon a reset control rod 35 as said sliding member commences its longitudinal movement for filling replenishment. The reset control rod 35 during this movement is caused to move in the direction of the indicating arrows shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 causing the opposite end thereof to contact the deenergizing control button 19 thus returning switch 1'7 to its original deenergized state. A bracket member 36 suitably attached to the loom as at 37 supports rod 35 adjacent that end which is acted upon by cam member A support housing 33 assembles by means of a bolt 39 to the rear side of the second supporting bracket 16 and serves to guide rod 35 during its lateral movement. This housing further includes a spring memher (not shown) which urges the reset control rod to its original position upon completion of bobbin transfer and the return of the horizontal sliding member 23 to its initial position.

in operation the gap between the feeler stem 14 and the laterally disposed rod 20 utilized as an intermediate member to energize switch 17 is adjustable to compensate for shuttle rebounds and loom vibration thus alleviating that undesirable condition of false indications for transfer and the premature transferring of unspent filling bobbins. This gap adjustment is accomplished by moving the switch laterally away or toward the filling feeler unit 12.

When a transfer indication is given, the switch member 17 remains energized until the horizontal sliding member 23 commences to move in a direction to eifect filling replenishment. During this movement cam member 3a is caused to act upon the reset control rod 35 causing its opposite end contact the deenergizing control button 19 thus returning the switch to its original deenergized state. As the horizontal sliding member returns to its initial position on completion of bobbin transfer, the spring biased reset control rod 35 moves away from the switch and re turns to its initial position.

Applicants invention thus provides a feeler mechanism which initiates positive replenshment indications and maintains such indications until the commencement of said replenishment.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A filling feeler mechanism for looms having in combination a slidable filling feeler, bobbin transferring linkage, a switch member adapted to be energized by said slidable filling feeler, a solenoid activated by said switch for initiating filling replenishment by means of said linkage, said switch member including an energizing control and a reset control, said linkage including a mechanical means effective upon said reset control during said filling replenishment.

2. A filling feeler mechanism for looms having in combination a slidable filling feeler, bobbin transferring linkage, a switch member adapted to be energized by said slidable filling feeler, a solenoid activated by said switch for initiating filling replenishment by means of said linkage, said switch member including an energizing control and a reset control, and a reset control rod adapted to act upon said reset control for returning said switch to its initial deenergized state.

3. A filling feeler mechanism for looms having in combination a slidable filling feeler, bobbin transferring linkage, a switch member adapted to be energized by said slidable filling feeler, a solenoid activated by said switch for initiating filling replenishment by means of said linkage, said switch member including an energizing control and a reset control, and a reset control rod adapted to act upon said reset control for returning said switch to its initial deenergized state, said linkage including an oscillating trip memembr, a horizontal sliding member, a laterally disposed motion transmitting rod and a pivot arm fixed thereto, said oscillating trip member being adapted to act upon said sliding member for imparting a transferring motion to said motion transmitting rod through said pivot arm upon indication from said solenoid, said sliding member being further provided with an integrally formed cam member adapted to act upon said reset control rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,689,700 Turner Oct. 30, 1928 2,150,059 Geddings Mar. 7, 1939 2,424,058 Sanderson et al July 15, 1947 2,479,845 Krukonis Aug. 23, 1949 2,685,895 Turner Aug. 10, 1954 

1. A FILLING FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS HAVING IN COMBINATION A SLIDABLE FILLING FEELER, BOBBIN TRANSFERRING LINKAGE, A SWITCH MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED BY SAID SLIDABLE FILLING FEELER, A SOLENOID ACTIVATED BY SAID SWITCH FOR INITIATING FILLING REPLENISHMENT BY MEANS OF SAID LINKAGE, SAID SWITCH MEMBER INCLUDING AN ENERGIZING CONTROL AND A RESET CONTROL, SAID LINKAGE INCLUDING A MECHANICAL MEANS EFFECTIVE UPON SAID RESET CONTROL DURING SAID FILLING REPLENISHMENT. 